Page 81 of Microburst

I really did, but there were things I needed to know if I was going to be involved with her, and that was fair to ask of her.

He tried to get back up and come for me, but I easily smacked him right back down, mocking him as I did. “Don’tworry, I’ll make sure she’s healed by treating her as she deserves. I’ll make sure she getseverythingshe needs, and my new priority is giving you whatyouneed so you can get the fuck out of here and her life.”

Then I knocked him out. I let out a happy sigh and stretched my neck, wincing at my shoulder before mentally wincing when I saw Sagan standing there watching intently.

I decided not to ignore it and went right for her. “We had a few things to discuss.”

She glanced from where Thorn was unconscious and back to me. “Evidently.” Then she shockedeveryonethere by standing on her toes for a kiss.

My dragon practically smacked me into action when my surprise made me freeze for a split second. I met her the rest of the way and kept it brief but more than a quick peck.

“I look forward to seeing more of your impressive moves,” she said as she pulled away. Her face turnedeveryshade of red when people started coughing and having an array of reactions. She glanced around and about melted into the ground right in front of me. “Oh, you’re all porn addicts! That’s not what I meant, and this is real life.”

She gave the most adorably exasperated sound and stormed over to Belinda like the ancient would be of any help and not the one with the worst reaction.

I’m in so much trouble and I don’t want anyone to save me.

21

Sagan

Onyx was too quiet after I told him everything that happened with Thorn. Well, noteverything. I skipped the intimate details… But the almost relationship stuff that had hurt me. The confusing stuff and parts he basically had been pushing me to share.

Or I thought that he wanted to know.

“Thorn Blount is a fucking moron beyond compare,” he finally said, nodding when I simply blinked at him. Onyx cupped my face with both hands. “You did nothing. He is aboytrapped in the grief of losing his parents and what he lost. The man he has become is still in that moment and I would bet anything it’s not even about him being Alpha anymore.”

“It’s all about being Alpha to him,” I argued. “That’s what we’re doing and—”

He brushed his lips over mine. “Kael is trampling all over the memory of his parents. Thorn probably hates his parents for not protecting him. They couldn’t have known Kael would do this to his own nephew, the Alpha’s own brother could be so horrible.”

And Onyx knew that firsthand, nodding when I swallowed loudly.

“But you deserved none of what he did to you, Sagan. He is trapped in his own pain, but that never excuses the pain wecause. You were doing everything you could to save me from pain because you hurt. You were trying to do the right thing. Thorn was childish—selfishand—mating you could never be a downgrade. That doesn’t even make sense.”

I opened my mouth, but he kissed me again.

“Just this once, trust me without questioning it. I promise you that I’m telling the truth, I see the whole picture, and I have no reason to lie to you. He’ll see it one day too and how big of a fucking idiot he’s been even.”

I wasn’t really sure what to say to that. I wanted to believe him and that it wasn’t me or even anything to do with me—being mated to me, but all about Thorn. I really did.

It just seemed too convenient of an answer. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say in response, but apparently Onyx was done talking about Thorn.

“I hate that you got hurt, but I’m so glad he was fucking stupid,” he whispered. He lifted me up and then I was sitting on the counter with him standing between my legs. “Really glad. I hate that you went to him for sex. I would give you better—please you better and give you whatever you need, baby girl. Always.”

“I don’t want it to be a competition.”

He snorted. “It wouldn’t be. We have feelings for each other.”

That wasn’t what I’d meant and I was fairly sure he knew that, but I didn’t get a chance to say that when his mouth found mine. It was different this time, not just passionate, but also somehow more intense and… Lighter? Which was conflicting, so I was confused and trying not to show it.

“He knows where he stands, or more that Thorn isn’t in the way,”Iris explained.

Great, now my dragon had to explain relationships to me.

“We feel his dragon’s joy that we can be his and his dragon is already ours,”Eloise clarified, sounding way too happy at that.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, but then Onyx leaned away and pulled off his shirt by the back of his collar in a sexy move that showed just about every thick muscle he had and my mind forgot anything but him. I reached to take off my shirt too but froze when he chuffed, making it clear that he wanted to do that.